July 4th Independence Day in Stuttgart, 2008

Does anyone know about 4th of July festivities in the Stuttgart area for this year? It falls on a Friday and I expect to take the day off as my own personal "bank holiday."

I assume Patch would be doing something, but I am a civilian. I don't know if we can get onto the base with a US ID and no sponsor.

I heard they may do some festival downtown at the schloss platz, but I can't find it using google.

Also, does anyone know where to get American Hamburger buns and baked beans? :-)

Thanks!

Ed

oops! sorry to all of the Americans out there, but I just read indecency day...
I really should wear my glasses, y´know?

No indecency intended-

Fireworks would be good too. I assume they are not legal in Germany? I have not seen any fireworks shops along the Autobahn...

Maybe we could just go outside and shoot our guns into the air? :-) I assume they are illegal too.

Re buns, I wonder if McDonald's will just sell me hamburger buns?

As I suspected, you can't get access to US installations overseas with a US ID like in the states. You need a sponsor to sign you in (and I assume escort you around) or you need a DoD ID. So the general public is not invited to celebrate the 4th with our troops overseas.

But is sounds like the commissary sells buns and beans, so that is encouraging.

My buddy said we should just use German buns with the hard crusts. Then is would not be American! Stale soft bread in a plastic bag for me! Maybe american processed cheese slices too!

Still hoping to find fireworks, although the kids are so young it might do more harm than good-

The Galleria Kaufhof near Konigstrasse has cheddar cheese, brown sugar, and various types of beans. So maybe you could make your own baked beans to go with a cheeseburger in Germany?

I still have not found a source for sesame seed buns, just crusty little brotchens.

We saw a couple of nice permanent charcoal grills at Max Eye See (NE end) so maybe that is a target to grill out? Nice fields, nice lake, nice vineyards. I have heard you need permits to grill in Germany...

The Kaufland in Vaihingen has American hot dog and hamburger buns! That is the first time I have seen them here.

I think I have a lead on baked beans... I still have not seen Bush's in the stores around here.

Now to find a fireworks stand...

I got some in my basement in Ludwigsburg.

One Week to July 4th!!

Since we can't get on a base for the fourth, we are organizing our own festivities.

I propose Max-Eyth-See around 10:30 AM.

We will bring burgers, dogs, buns, chips, plus German beers and kartoffelnsalat. I think we even found a hook-up for some Bush's Baked Beans!

The NE corner of the lake has a few grills.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=48...mp;t=h&z=19

Bring some American food and drink and join us!

I'm English and hence am at work that day. Will it carry on into the evening? I've only ever been to one Thanksgiving dinner which, interestingly enough, was in China, and I loved it. Luckily, we had friends who worked for the embassy who could get us a couple of huge turkeys to roast.

What type of "American" food should I bring? I don't really know the traditions.

American Days in Stuttgart
Sponsered by the German American club.

Accents online
They're working on their web site and plan to have their magazine online this summer. Save the link.

I'll be there! I even have an awesome patriotic playlist!

What's going on with the German American Club...it doesn't really seem to have anything going on July 4th related to the holiday.

I doubt we will go into the evening. I am taking July 4th as my own personal bank holiday, so having festivities after work seems silly.

Americans usually grill out on independence day. Standard fare would be hamburgers and hot dogs, accompanied by potato salad and baked beans. Watermelon is another common food. And beer. I managed to find everything here, even baked beans for 2 Euros a can at the Karstadt! Not as bad as the 6 Euro poptarts...

As for the German American club, the big Friday event: showing movies about Native Americans! "We proudly present: Indianer & Inuit – Das Nordamerika Film Festival" How is that related to Independence day? Sounds like it could be a downer. No Private Ryan, Patriot, Red Dawn, Forrest Gump, Independence Day, Hunt for Red October, John Wayne, etc...

And no fireworks!

What time are you thinking of ending? I can get out at 12-30 be there around 1-30. Any particulars to bring other than beer and maybe beer? Not good on the food front, could end up with mystery meat instead of hot dogs knowing my luck!

By the way where in the US are you all from? I live in Denver!

wanted to send a happy 4th shout out to everyone...

have a safe one..

hailing from chi-town

Great! We will be there a while, the weather looks to be outstanding.

We should have dogs, burgers, fixins, chips, potato salad, baked beans, smores, strawberry shortcake, beers and cokes.

We also got a watermelon, maybe 1 foot diameter. $10!! And you have to pay by weight!!

We have a frisbee and a soccer ball, plus some patriotic tunes are coming.

And we are mostly from Columbia, SC. Go Cocks!

And no fireworks!

The closest you can get is to watch the fireworks they set off on base. They used to have the fireworks show on RB which was great for us non-military Americans, but this year it’s on Patch in Vaihingen.

USAG Stuttgart:
...time for the fireworks July 4 at Husky Field, Patch Barracks...at 10:30 p.m.

I'd love to come have a burger but I have to work. Have a good on nonetheless.

(-:

Happy 4th everyone!

God Bless the USA and the men and women who serve all around the world!!!

I agree wholeheartedly. Until I moved overseas, I had no idea what it was like to really be away from family and friends. Now I have some idea of their sacrifice even when stationed in a peaceful zone.

Of course, they do get Taco Bell and Cheetos, so maybe is isn't so bad...

BTW, the Patch link is here for those that can go: http://www.stuttgart.army.mil/sites/local/...20of%20July.JPG


Where is this RB?

Where is Husky Field? Should we be able to see something from Vaihingen downtown (if I can keep the kids up til 10:30)?

I bet Husky Field is the baseball field in the middle of Patch right here. Looks like you could get pretty close just walking out to the edge of the University of Stuttgart Campus?

Sounds fun! Hey, does anyone have a football (not a fussball so we can toss around? Have been to the lake once, it seems like a nice place. I just hope the weather is going to be on our side

Which U-/S-bahn station is this lake near?